Windproof Umbrella Frame

ABSTRACT

A windproof umbrella frame is presented comprising a main rib ( 1 ) supporting a canopy, a support rib ( 2 ), and a connecting rod ( 3 ) connecting the main rib ( 1 ) and the support rib ( 2 ). A center plate ( 5 ) is arranged at the middle-section of the main rib ( 1 ). A support rib joint ( 6 ) is fixedly arranged at one end of the support rib ( 2 ). One end of the connecting rod ( 3 ) is hinged to the center plate ( 5 ) along the main rib ( 1 ) and the other end is integrally formed with the support rib joint ( 6 ). The support rib joint ( 6 ) and the connecting rod ( 3 ) are connected by a flexible soft plastic segment ( 31 ). The soft plastic segment ( 31 ) has a tab ( 34 ) arranged along the outside thereof so as to extend radially outward therefrom. The windproof umbrella frame of the present invention is easy and convenient to assemble, robust, and less costly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims priority from PatentCooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/CN2013/000021 filed Jan. 10, 2013entitled Windproof Umbrella Frame which further claims priority fromChinese Patent Application No. 201220009818.6 filed Jan. 11, 2012entitled Windproof Umbrella Skeleton. The subject matters of the priorapplications are incorporated in their entirety herein by referencethereto.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an umbrella structure, and moreparticularly to an improved frame for an umbrella resistant towind-induced damage.

2. Background

In many presently known umbrellas, a support rib is directly hinged toan intermediate element along a main rib supporting an umbrella fabric.Use of such umbrellas during windy weather often results ineversion-induced damage to the frame supporting the umbrella fabric. Theprior art includes a design intended to avoid wind-induced damagewherein a short connecting rod is disposed between and connected to amain rib and a support rib. The connecting rod provides a cushioningforce at the main rib to avoid damage to the frame, thus extending theuseful life of an umbrella. However, both ends of the connecting rod areconnected respectively to the main rib and the support rib via rivets.This design feature complicates assembly. Also, this design feature iscomplex and costly. Furthermore, this design feature remains susceptibleto wind-induced damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a windproof umbrellaframe that that avoids the limitations of the prior art.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a windproofumbrella frame that simplifies assembly, reduces cost, and is robust.

The invention includes a main rib supporting an umbrella fabric, asupport rib, and a connecting rod disposed between the support rib andthe main rib. The main rib includes a center plate centrally disposedthereon. The support rib includes a support rib joint at an end thereof.One end of the connecting rod is hingedly connected to the center plateand another end of the connecting rod is integrally molded to thesupport rib joint. The support rib joint is connected to the connectingrod via a flexible soft plastic segment. The soft plastic segmentincludes a tab that extends radially outward therefrom.

In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the center plateincludes a clamping portion and a catch fixed to and extending from theclamping portion. The clamping portion includes a clamping slot forreceiving the main rib. The clamping slot is less wide than the main ribso that the clamping slot mechanically secures the center plate to themain rib. The connecting rod includes a through hole. The catch engagesthe through hole.

In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the connectingrod and the center plate are secured via a rivet.

In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the connectingrod is provided with a seating depression along one side toward the mainrib.

Exemplary advantages of the invention include the following. Theintegral connection between connecting rod and support rib via aflexible soft plastic segment provides an assembly that simplifiesassembly, reduces cost, and is robust.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will beunderstood and will become more readily apparent when the invention isconsidered in the light of the following description made in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating features of the invention whenthe main rib of the windproof umbrella frame is properly configured inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating features of the invention whenthe main rib of the windproof umbrella frame is deformed by wind loadingin accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating features of the inventionwherein the center plate includes a catch configured to engage a throughhole along the connecting rod in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating features of the inventionwherein the center plate and connecting rod are connectable via a rivetin accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating design features ofthe connecting rod, support rib joint, soft plastic segment, seatingdepression, and tab in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of theinvention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the windproof umbrella frame includes amain rib 1, a support rib 2 and a connecting rod 3. The main rib 1supports an umbrella fabric. The support rib 2 supports the main rib 1.The connecting rod 3 is disposed between and connected to an outer endof the support rib 2 and the main rib 1. A center plate 5 is disposedalong the central portion of the main rib 1. The support rib 2 isprovided with a support rib joint 6 disposed along an outer end. Theconnecting rod 3 is hinged to the center plate 5 of the main rib 1 atone end and integrally molded with the support rib joint 6 at anotherend, the latter illustrated in FIG. 5. The support rib joint 6 isconnected to the connecting rod 3 via a flexible soft plastic segment31. The integrally molded structure avoids the need for rivets, yetfacilitates a simple, convenient, low cost, robust, and reliableassembly. The soft plastic segment 31 includes a tab 34 disposedradially outward from the outer side of the soft plastic segment 31.This arrangement ensures that the soft plastic segment 31 of theconnecting rod 3 moves radially outward when an umbrella is opened, sothat the connecting rod 3 is inversely folded without bending toward theopposing inside.

The connecting rod 3 and the center plate 5 may be hinged as describedbelow.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the center plate 5 includes a clamping portion51 and a catch 52 fixed to the bottom end of the clamping portion 51.The clamping portion 51 is provided with a clamping slot 53 configuredto receive the main rib 1 along a top surface. The width of the openingalong the clamping slot 53 is slightly smaller than the diameter of themain rib 1. One end of the connecting rod 3 is provided with a throughhole 32. The through hole 32 is configured to receive the catch 52, thusenabling the catch 52 to be secured to the connecting rod 3. Whenassembled, the catch 52 passes through the through hole 32 adjacent toone end of the connecting rod 3 and the main rib 1 is pressed into andlocked within the clamping slot 53, so as to provide a rivet-less hingebetween the connecting rod 3 and the main rib 1. The catch 52 abuts themain rib 1 so that the connecting rod 3 does not separate from thecenter plate 5.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the center plate 5 and the connecting rod 3 arehingedly connected via rivets. The center plate 5 and connecting rod 3include holes that mutually align to facilitate secured attachment of arivet through both structures.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the connecting rod 3 is provided with a seatingdepression 33 along the side directed toward the main rib 1. Referringagain to FIG. 1, the main rib 1 seats onto the seating depression 33,thereby increasing the positional stability of the main rib 1 andreducing the volume of the umbrella. Referring again to FIG. 2, the mainrib 1 with the umbrella fabric could possibly reverse outward when windloads contact the inner surface of the umbrella; however, the connectingrod 3 connected to the main rib 1 would correspondingly rotate, and theposition of which would move upward, largely buffering the force at thejunction between both the connecting rod 3 and the main rib 1, therebyincreasing the operational life of the frame.

The description above indicates that a great degree of flexibility isoffered in terms of the present invention. Although various embodimentshave been described in considerable detail with reference to certainpreferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, thespirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to thedescription of the versions contained herein.

1. A windproof umbrella frame comprising: a main rib supporting anumbrella fabric; a support rib; and a connecting rod disposed betweensaid support rib and said main rib, said main rib includes a centerplate centrally disposed thereon, said support rib includes a supportrib joint at an end thereof; wherein, one end of said connecting rodhingedly connected to said center plate and another end of saidconnecting rod integrally molded to said support rib joint, said supportrib joint connected to said connecting rod via a soft plastic segment,said soft plastic segment being flexible and includes a tab that extendsradially outward therefrom.
 2. The windproof umbrella frame of claim 1,wherein said center plate includes a clamping portion and a catch fixedto and extending from said clamping portion, said clamping portionincludes a clamping slot for receiving said main rib, said clamping slotless wide than said main rib so that said clamping slot mechanicallysecures said center plate to said main rib, said connecting rod includesa through hole, said catch engages said through hole.
 3. The windproofumbrella frame of claim 1, wherein said connecting rod and said centerplate are secured via a rivet.
 4. The windproof umbrella frame of claim1, wherein said connecting rod includes a seating depression along oneside toward said main rib.
 5. The windproof umbrella frame of claim 2,wherein said connecting rod includes a seating depression along one sidetoward said main rib.
 6. The windproof umbrella frame of claim 3,wherein said connecting rod includes a seating depression along one sidetoward said main rib.